​MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Carla Gregory was already battling the heat before she even anticipated the World Cup quarterfinal showdown between England and Norway on Saturday. With a cold bottle in one hand and an unfolded fan in the other, she waved the flimsy breeze in an effort to conjure a momentary respite from the sun. Yet the elements continued to win, leaving the England supporter uncomfortable at best no matter how she tried to cope.
“I can’t imagine playing 90 minutes in it,” said Gregory, who traveled from their home in Telford, England with her husband to follow the team through the World Cup. The weather, not just the opponent, emerged as a significant factor for both teams in this year’s tournament. Norway had to contend with a different set of challenges, but England found themselves facing a similar test in the sweltering conditions. The temperature when warm-ups began Saturday afternoon was 92 degrees Fahrenheit (33 Celsius), and with humidity factored in, it felt like 104 F (40 C). Those conditions stood in stark contrast to the cooler climates many players call home—London’s 72 F (22 C) and Lillehammer’s 59 F (15 C) at that time.
Norway’s coach, Ståle Solbakken, summarized the approach to the match by the eve of kickoff: “I think we have trained very lightly. We haven’t done much hard work. We obviously have tactical sessions, but at a lower tempo and have not trained for long periods.” In other words, rest and hydration took precedence for Norway, which had spent much of the week in South Florida acclimating to the heat and humidity. England, by contrast, did not arrive in the Miami area until later in the week.
“Up until now we’ve played in cool conditions, I would say,” England defender Nico O’Reilly said. “But we’re ready for it.” This trip to South Florida was not England’s first stop on the World Cup road to this point. The team had previously arrived in Palm Beach Gardens—about 90 minutes north of Miami Gardens—on June 2 for an extended period of training and to acclimate to the heat and humidity. England also had to adapt to the high temperatures of its Kansas City base camp and navigate Mexico’s altitude to defeat the co-host in the round of 16. But nothing quite matched the combination of heat and humidity that greeted the teams on Saturday.
Gregory, watching from the stands, said she felt a pang for the players. “It’s hard just sitting and watching it,” she admitted. The scene around her—a sun-scorched, muggy afternoon in South Florida—was a stark reminder that this World Cup has tested teams in ways that go beyond tactics and star power. Harry Kane and Erling Haaland were the talk on the field, with both sides preparing to face the other’s threats under harsh conditions that demanded more than skill—precision, endurance, and careful management of energy and hydration.
By kickoff, the chatter extended beyond the tactical plans and into the realm of weather strategy. Teams leaned on lighter training sessions and hydration protocols, knowing that the heat could influence pace, stamina, and decision-making. Norway’s approach underscored an emphasis on preserving energy—resting more, training lighter, and focusing on tactical readiness—while England prepared to push through the heat with confidence built from earlier acclimatization and a tactical awareness of their rivals’ strengths.
As the match progressed, Gregory remained hopeful but pragmatic about the challenge delivered by the climate. The day’s conditions underscored a broader message about this World Cup: in a tournament defined by flair and firepower, the weather has been an equally formidable opponent, shaping lineups, conditioning, and the very pace of play. For fans like Gregory, watching from the stands or on a screen, the heat served as a reminder that victory in football is often as much about endurance as it is about talent.
Gracie Fisher is a student at the University of Georgia’s Carmical Sports Media Institute, contributing to AP’s World Cup coverage. For more World Cup reporting and updates, see AP’s ongoing coverage.